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An Idaho teen with Asperger's
syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, lost a federal jury trial last month on
his ADA and Section 504 claims against the Boise and Meridian school districts. Matthew Abramowski, now
19, claimed that the districts failed to provide an appropriate education and did not protect him from bullying. Abramowski's school district terminated his IEP when he was in eighth-grade after deciding that he no longer needed services. In 2009, the
then-15-year-old set his house on fire, an event that Abramowski's parents say arose from their son's frustruation
with isolation and bullying in school.
(After pleading guilty to arson, Abramowski was sentenced to six
months detention and ten years probation.)

A federal jury deliberated about 6½ hours before
finding in favor of the school boards. After the verdict, Abramowski's lawyer, Charlene Quade, said that the applicable law is complicated because 504 is
"a discrimination statute, a civil rights
statute, and it involves intentional discrimination or discrimination otherwise
shown by deliberate indifference." U.S. Chief Magistrate
Judge Candy Dale presided over the trial in D.A., et al. v. Meridian Joint
School District No 2 et al., 1:11-cv-00119-CWD (D. Idaho). Read more at the Idaho Press-Tribune.